Do Not Be As the Horse Or As the Mule

King David was well beloved by the LORD because David always looked to the LORD for his strength and protection. David also had a heart that was filled with thanksgiving and praise. So, David’s faith was very pleasing to the LORD. But, there was something even more about David that made the LORD love him. Psalm 32 reveals it. It’s about David’s trust in the LORD regarding the sins in his life. The whole Psalm is well worth studying and applying to our personal lives. Some verses say,

How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit! Verses 1-2

I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.Verse 5

Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. Verse 9

Without God’s forgiveness, we are definitely lost and condemned forever. There is nothing more awful. It is so good to get rid of the burden of all our guilt, so David writes, “How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven”. We all need to realize “how blessed” it is to have our sins “forgiven”. We don’t have to be slinking around, hoping to get into heaven by hook or by crook, without being noticed.

Much rather, we need to be like David and say, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”. That is the sure way to receive God’s mercy and forgiveness. We need to know that God already knows our every little hidden sin — our thoughts, desires, and feelings. We aren’t hiding a single thing from Him by not confessing. When we hide our sins from God, all we’re showing is a lack of faith, hope, and love.

When David says, “Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,” he is telling us to not put God into the position of having to force us into admitting our sins. God doesn’t want to have to make life tough for us so that we have to be severely disciplined before we finally give up and admit our sins.

We can have a much better relationship with our Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer by readily admitting our sins and humbly asking for the forgiveness we sorely need. Then, with relief, we can say with David in verse 11,

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.

In the peace of God’s everlasting mercy, we say, “Hallelujah! LORD, thank You for taking our sins away in Christ Jesus.”